Carton



Jan. 12, 1965 N. H. MOORE 3,165,254

CARTON Filed Aug. 13, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. NORMA/V H. MOORE v zjy -zw ATTORNEYS N. H. MOORE Jan. 12, 1965 CARTON 2 SheetsSheet 1 Filed Aug. 13 1962 INVENTOR. NORMA/V H. MOORE ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,165,254 CARTUN Norman H. Moore, Palo Alto, Calif., assignor to Fibreboard Paper Products Corporation, San Francisco, Calif., a corporation of Delaware Fiied Aug. 13, 1962, Ser. No. 216,594 2 Claims. Cl. 229-51) This invention relates to a carton and more particularly relates to a carton blank which may be formed into a closed carton adapted to be opened and thereafter closed to prevent contamination and leakage of the contents thereof.

Leakage problems are particularly apparent with respect to the packaging of ice cream and like products. The primary problem is one of providing a carton which is leak-proof when such products are maintained in a liquid state therein. For example, during the packaging of ice cream a first end of the carton is closed while an open second end thereof is arranged to receive unfrozen ice cream. The second end is thereafter also closed and the ice cream is then frozen. The problems presented due to leakage of the non-frozen ice cream from the car ton are apparent. Furthermore, it is desirable to provide the consumer with a leak-proof carton for such products which may be expeditiously opened and reclosed to maintain the contained product in an uncontaminated condition.

Conventional ice cream cartons generally comprise end portions employing lock-tab arrangments or the like which are highly prone to leakage. Leakage problems are inherent therewith primarily due to the inefficient constructions and arrangements of the end portions thereof. Also, such cartons are generally cumbersome to open and cannot always be reclcsed to prevent contamination of the product which is contained therein.

The present invention has overcome many of the above described difficulties by providing a carton blank which may be expeditiously formed into a reclosable carton which is highly resistant to leakage. The blank comprises five consecutive hingeclly connected panels each having a pair of symmetrically arranged flaps hingedly connected thereto. The panels and flaps are uniquely constructed and arranged so that a flap which is hingedly connected to the top panel thereof may be arranged to nestle in substantial seating engagement with mating edge portions formed on flaps of a front inner panel and rear panel to thereby aid in the prevention of leakage through the end portions of the erected carton, Further novel con: cepts of this invention provide an erected carton arrangement W erein the flaps formed on the top panel overlie flaps hingedly connected to the bottom panel, the flaps formed on the rear panel are attached to the flaps of the top and bottom panels, the flaps of a front outer panel An object of this invention is to provide a carton blank of simple construction which may be expeditiously and economically manufactured and readily formed into a reclosable carton.

Another object of this invention is to provide a carton blank which is constructed and arranged to permit the exeditious forming of a reclosable and leak-proof carton.

A further object of this invention is to provide a leakproof carton which may be expeditiously opened and thereafter closed to prevent contamination of the carton contents.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a reclosable carton having integrated panel flaps forming end closures arranged to prevent leakage thereby When the carton is filled with a liquid or the like.

Other and more specific objects of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the inside surface portions of acarton blank, constructed and arranged in conformance with novel concepts of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view disclosing a closed carton having a substantially rectangular cross-section formed from the blank shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view disclosing the carton of FIG. 2 in opened condition; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the carton of FIG. 2 as it would appear in its substantially formed condition.

The carton blank of FIG. 1, disclosing the inner surface portions of the subsequently formed carton, is shown as symmetrically arranged on a longitudinal axis XX. The length dimensions of various portions of the blank should be herein understood to be taken in a direction along this axis while the width dimensions of such p0rtions should be understood to be taken laterally thereof. It should be further understood that the sides of the blank, divided by axis X-X, are substantially identical and therefore, the discussion herein will be primarily directed to only one side.

. Score lines 16 are formed in parallel relationship on the blank relative to axis XX, and define first to fifth consecutive hingedly connected panels 1145 having first to fifth pairs of flaps Ila-45a, respectively, hingedly at tached at the score lines. As will be hereinafter more fully understood, the blank may be expeditiously formed into the closed carton arrangement of FIG. 2 with the first or outer-front panel 11 arranged in overlying and attached relationship to the fifth or inner-front panel 15 and the remaining panel flaps integrated therewith in a novel manner to form leakproof end closures. As more clearly shown in the substantially formed carton of FIG. 4, fiap 12a of the second or top panel 12 overlies upstanding flap 14a of the fourth or bottom panel 14 and flaps 11a, 13a and 15a are arranged to be placed in overlying relationship with and selectively attached to flaps 12a and Thus, removal of a tear strip 16, formed in panel 11 and flaps 11a thereof, permits at raising of the formed cover assembly to the open position shown in FIG. 3.

The upstanding front, rear and two end portions of the formed carton thereafterfprovide four coextensive, leakproof Wall portions which form a body assembly to efficiently contain the carton contents.

Reference is now to the more specific constructions and arrangements of the carton blank shown in FIG. 1. The blank may comprise paperboard or any suitable carton material. The first or outer-front panel 11 is hingedly connected to the second or top panel 12 at score line 21. Tear strip 16 is formed by two snbtantially til 15a may have a slit 42 formed therein to facilitate folding. Heat is thereafter suitably applied to the adhesive parallel and laterally extending knife cuts which may,

be formed in one or both sides of panel 11 and first flaps 11a. Notches 22 are formed in flap 11a to facilitate removal of the tear strip, as will be hereinafter more fully understood. The tear strip is arranged to divide the panel and flaps thereof into a first portion adjacent panel 12 and a second portion. Slits 33 are formed in this panel, coincident with score lines 10, and terminate at the tear strip. An L-shaped adhesive or glue pattern 24 is formed by standard techniques on first fiap portions of the first portions of the first panel and first flap adjacent to the second flap and lateral edge of the first flap.

Panel 12 is hingedly connected to the thirdor back patterns to bond mating surface portions of the carton together. The pre-applied adhesive is preferably of the resinous, hot-melt and heat sealing type. The. carton may then be arranged on a conveyor or the like with the open end portion thereof being positioned to receive a panel 13 at score line 26. The second flap 12a thereof a of approximately 60 relative to score line 19.

Panel 13 is'hingedly connected to the fourth or bottom panel 14 at a score line 29, the score line terminating in a slit 39 arranged to disconnect third flap 13a and fourth fiap 14a. Flap 13a has a disconnectable tab 13b formed thereon, bounded by slit 31 and perforated tear line 32, preferably arranged to extend at an angle of approxiatemly .45 relative to score line 10. The length of the liquid constituent, such as unfrozen ice cream. The open end pontion of the carton is thereafter closed in substan tially the same manner as'abo-ve described.

Expeditions removal of tear strip 16 which is arranged below the intersecting edge portions 28, 37'and 38 is aided due to the cooperating arrangement of notches 22 and perforated tear line32. A body assembly constituting fourcoextensive wall portions is thus provided for efficient retention of the carton contents;

It should be noted thatslit 31 is arranged. so that the upwardly facing edge formed thereby on flap13d may be I thereafter maintained in substantial abutting relationship with the downwardly. facing edge of flap 12a to minimize the possibility of leakage thereby; Also,iflaps 13a do not tab substantially equals the lateral width of flap 12. An.

L-shaped adhesive pattern 33 is formed'on the tab and a rectangularly shaped adhesive pattern 34 is formed on the substantial remaining surface portions of fiap 13a.

Panel 14 is hingedly connected to fifth or outer-front panel 115 at score 1111635, the score line laterally terminating a slit 36 which disconnects fourth vflap 14a from fifth flap 15a. Flap 14:: preferably has a width substantially equal to the length of panel-13 and further has a length substantially equal to the width thereof.

Flap 15a has a V-shaped cutout portion arranged ad jacent to an outer edge of panel. 15 and formedby intersecting edge portions 37 and 38 constructed and arranged to substantially conform to the V-shaped configuration 28 of flap 12a for purposes hereinafter ,more fully on derstood. A notched-out portion 39 is arranged to co- .of flap 13a and ISa-are preferably constructed to beno greater than the length of flap 14a.

FIG. 2 discloses a closed carton formed from the carton blank of FIG. 1. The five panels are initially suitably folded to position panel 11' in overlying relationship with respect to. panel 15. A standard adhesive may then be utilized to attach the above-describedsecond portion of panel ll and flaps 12 to matching underlying surface portions of panel 15 and flaps 15a to form a conventional manufacturers glue joint, as shown at 41 in FIG: 4. The front panels and flaps are thus secured together, below the detachable tear strip 16 to folded carton sub-assembly. V p The folded carton sub-assembly may be .rthereafter with respect to one of the flaps 140:, as more clearly shown in FIG. 4. Flap .lla and 150, connected together as permitshipping of the formed into the carton shown in FIG. 2 in the following 'manner.- A first endpor-tionofthe carton is'first closed. by placing'one of the flaps 12a in overlying relationship above described, are. then folded along with flap 13a to overlie flaps 12a and 14a. in the manner shown. Flap overlap with either flaps 11a or 15a and edge portions 28 of flaps 12. are arranged to abut and be seated in edge portions 37 and 38 of flaps 15a to further increase the sealing efiiciency of the carton. Thus a reclo sable carton is providedwhich may be reused Without affecting sealing efiiciencyy, Y

I clairnz" 1. A cartonblank symmetrically arranged on a longitudinal axis and having a length as taken along said axis and width as taken laterally thereof, parallel score. lines formed on said blank in parallel relationship .to said axis defining first to fifth consecutive hingedlyvv connected panels haying first to fifth pairs 'of flaps hingedly 'connected atsaid'score lines thereto, respectively, said flaps having widths arranged to extend laterally relative to said axis,.the first of said panels and said first flaps thereof having a laterally extending tear strip formed therein for division thereof into a first'portion adjacent the sec 0nd of said panels'and a second portion, slits formed in said second portion and arranged coincident with said score lines and terminating at said tear strip, said second line extending from and at an angle ofv approximately 45 "relative to the score line which connects the third flaps to the thirdpanel and a laterally extending slit, said fourth flaps arranged in disconnected relationship relative to said fifth flaps and. having lateral Widths substantially equal to .the rlength of said third panel and further having lengths substantially equalito' the" width thereof, said fifth flaps having .V-shaped cutout portions arranged-adjacent an outer edge of said fifth panel and formed by edge portions constructed .and' arranged to substantially conform tothe V-shapedconfignration of the edge portions of said second fiaps,.said third and fifth flaps having substantially equal laterallyextending 5 6 widths, the total of which is no greater than the length References Cited by the Examiner said foufth E UNITED STATES PATENTS 2. The invention of clann 1 further compnsing L- shaped adhesive patterns formed on the first flap por- 2,218,509 10/40 Goodyear 229' 511 tions of the first portions of said first panel and first flaps 5 2,835,594 5/58 Felt 22951 X adjacent to said second flaps and outer lateral edges of 3,018,942 1/62 Ameson 22951 said first flaps, adhesive patterns formed on said discon- 3,111,255 11/63 Skowronskl 22951 nectable tabs of said third flaps and rectangularly-shaped 3,125,280 3/64 Henry 229-51 glue patterns formed on the remaining portions of said third flaps and substantially rectangularliy-shaped ad- 10 hesive patterns formed on said fifth flaps.

GEORGE O. RALSTON, Primary Examiner. 

1. A CARTON BLANK SYMMETRICALLY ARRANGED ON A LONGITUDINAL AXIS AND HAVING A LENGTH AS TAKEN ALONG SAID AXIS AND WIDTH AS TAKEN LATERALLY THEREOF, PARALLEL SCORE LINES FORMED ON SAID BLANK IN PARALLEL RELATIONSHIP TO SAID AXIS DEFINING FRIST TO FIFTH CONSECUTIVE HINGEDLY CONNECTED PANELS HAVING FIRST TO FIFTH PAIRS OF FLAPS HINGEDLY CONNECTED AT SAID SCORE LINES THERETO, RESPECTIVELY SAID FLAPS HAVING WIDTHS ARRANGED TO EXTEND LATERALLY RELATIVE TO SAID AXIS, THE FIRST OF SAID PANELS AND SAID FIRST FLAPS THEREOF HAVING A LATERALLY EXTENDING TEAR STRIP FORMED THEREIN FOR DIVISION THEREOF INTO A FIRST PORTION ADJACENT THE SECOND OF SAID PANELS AND A SECOND PORTION, SLITS FORMED IN SAID SECOND PORTION AND ARRANGED COINCIDENT WITH SAID SCORE LINES AND TERMINATING AT SAID TEAR STRIP, SAID SECOND FLAPS HAVING LATERALLY EXTENDING WIDTHS SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL TO THE LENGTH OF THE FIRST PORTION OF SAID FIRST PANEL AND FIRST FLAPS AND HAVING EDGE PORTIONS FORMING A SUBSTANTIALLY V-SHAPED CONFIGURATION, ONE OF SAID EDGE PORTIONS OPPOSING SAID FIRST FLAPS AND ARRANGED TO EXTEND FROM AND FORMING AN ANGLE OF APPROXIMATELY 60* RELATIVE TO THE SCORE LINE WHICH CONNECTES THE SECOND FLAPS TO SAID SECOND PANEL, THE THIRD FLAPS ARRANGED IN DISCONNECTED RELATIONSHIP RELATIVE TO THE SECOND AND FOURTH FLAPS AND HAVING A DISCONNECTABLE TAB FORMED THEREON HAVING A LENGTH SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL TO THE LATERAL WIDTH OF SAID SECOND FLAP, SAID TAB BEING BOUNDED BY A PERFORATED TEAR LINE EXTENDING FROM AND AT AN ANGLE APPROXIMATELY 45* RELATIVE TO THE SCORE LINE WHICH CONNECTS THE THIRD FLAPS TO THE THIRD PANEL AND A LATERALLY EXTENDING SLIT, SAID FORUTH FLAPS ARRANGED IN DISCONNECTED RELATIONSHIP RELATIVE TO SAID FIFTH FLAPS AND HAVING LATERAL WIDTHS SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL TO THE LENGTH OF SAID THIRD PANEL AND FURTHER HAVING LENGTHS SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL TO THE WIDTH THEREOF, SAID FIFTH FLAPS HAVING V-SHAPED CUTOUT PORTIONS ARRANGED ADJACENT AN OUTER EDGE OF SAID FIFTH PANEL AND FORMED BY EDGE PORTIONS CONSTRUCTED AND ARRANGED TO SUBSTANTIALLY CONFORM TO THE V-SHAPED CONFIGURATION OF THE EDGE PORTIONS OF SAID SECOND FLAPS, SAID THIRD AND FIFTH FLAPS HAVING SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL LATERALLY EXTENDING WIDTHS, THE TOTAL OF WHICH IS NO GREATER THAN THE LENGTH OF SAID FOURTH FLAP. 